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Infiltration Forums > Archived UE Tutorials, Lessons, and Useful Info > lock shims (Viewed 978 times)
schematics 


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secret underground lair, Edmonton, AB
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lock shims
< on 1/6/2006 5:58 AM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
Lock shims are useful, but I'm not sure what to use. my friend uses a steel ruler that he's altered with tin snips, while I've heard that thin sheet metal can also be easily custom cut. my personal favorite right now is a turf/linoleum knife (sturdy, comes with handle, no customizing needed) but it's more than a little suspcious and sharper than it really needs to be. so, what do you use, what have you made, what have you made do with?

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TaP 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 1 on 1/6/2006 7:12 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
a plastic ruler


pyro 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 2 on 1/6/2006 7:29 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
How thin are your shims? And do they only work on really old/cheap padlocks that have loose tolerances?

"[emo kids] are like homeless people with thier hand out only its pitty they want and not money." -boutdatlonestar
TaP 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 3 on 1/6/2006 9:00 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
very loose tolerances ;)



MindHacker 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 4 on 1/7/2006 5:13 AM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
Padlock shims- coke can (see hackaday, or somewhere), cut and folded.
I also have real lock shims for seperating pins along the sheer lines, but these have to be real thin, and only work on low quality locks and need a pick anyways.

Edit: http://www.i-hacke...ntent/view/189/48/
[last edit 1/7/2006 5:15 AM by MindHacker - edited 1 times]

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pyro 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 5 on 1/7/2006 4:48 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Thanks a lot mindhacker, I remember once reading about using pop can sheet metal for the credit card trick on doors, but I would have never made the connection and use pop cans for shims.

"[emo kids] are like homeless people with thier hand out only its pitty they want and not money." -boutdatlonestar
Zensins 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 6 on 1/10/2006 7:37 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I made a great shim out of a hacksaw blade. It blows through doors with those metal plates over the bolt area. The trick to a great shim is it has to slide smoothly over the sharp edge of the bolt. If it catches on the edge of the bolt for whatever reason (soft material or rough surface), or cuts into the edge of the latch, it locks up and won't open.

If you have a pair of tin snips you can cut a nice gradual 3" long swept edge that resembles a knife blade. Then grind the "edge" of this blade smooth and give it a nice, rounded, dull blade finish. Then polish the whole thing up. I rounded the tip as well because I don't want it sharp for carrying. If anyone wants to see it, I'll post some pics.

The upside? The first time I used it, it worked so quickly and easily that I almost felt gipped. Literally no skill required. Pull or push the door so there's no pressure on the bolt, insert shim, open door. The downside? Although it's thin and light and can be concealed easily, it looks like a weapon and (assuming you didn't get shot for "brandishing a knife at the officer in a threatening manner" as you turned around and said, "Huh?") it is undeniably a burglary tool. In my state, that adds a whole new offense to your bust if caught on site and makes it very hard to play the "innocent explorer" card and have anyone buy it. If you make it and use it, ditch the shim near the door once you're past it. Hide it under some gravel, or find another suitable hiding place for it. Pick it up on your way out.


skeleton_keys 






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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 7 on 3/5/2006 12:24 PM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
These really do work, too...I had a friend show me the pop can shim (and it looks like he copied the exact method from the IHacked link) just two weeks ago. We took a few Master padlocks, I cut some shims from Dr. Pepper cans and folded them up (made them a little too wide at first, too), and got each of them on the first try. You just wrap it around the inside of the shackle, insert downward, and twist around to the outside, and pop! goes the shackle. I didn't cut my hands, either.

Glass 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 8 on 3/5/2006 7:02 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Zensins
If anyone wants to see it, I'll post some pics.



I'm curious to see it.

Ninjako 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 9 on 3/5/2006 7:59 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by mynameisglass


I'm curious to see it.


I second this. Post up pics please. I've been trying to make one for a while now, but every design I've used bends up / doesn't work properly.


DigitalChameleon 






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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 10 on 3/6/2006 6:50 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
For badly constructed deadbolts, a well made, sharp knife usually does the trick. Be careful though. I did this to a site, and had to leave through a window (it was open) so that I was able to lock the door behind me. Also, another one of those "have fun explaining it" items. Carrying one isn't too bad, but explaining two or more to an officer of the law could be... troublesome to say the least.

Padlocks I find easier to pick than to shim. To be honest, I've never suceeded in shiming one, though I haven't tried often. It didn't occour to me that you can't pick combo locks, but I've never encountered them.

Ps. I looked at the I-hacked link. Looks too good to be true, but I have beer cans, and intend to find out. Now if I could just find that lock from high school...
[last edit 3/6/2006 7:48 PM by DigitalChameleon - edited 2 times]

skeleton_keys 






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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 11 on 3/7/2006 10:24 AM >
Posted on Forum: Infiltration Forums
 
For the pop can shims - yeah, they really work, it's just getting the size right the first time that's tricky. Rolling it around a pen or a screwdriver shaft before using it first is important, too. And yeah, picking keyed padlocks is easy, but for the combos you run into, this worked for me in about 10 - 15 seconds per lock. With the dial facing you, go to the lefthand side of the shackle, put your shim so the point is on the "inside" of it (between the inner shackle side and top of the lock body), and slide it down into the gap. Then carefully use the little handles on the shim to twist it around the shackle to the outside, applying a little upward pressure to the shackle so it'll come open as soon as you slip it. You pretty much destroy the pop can shims every time, but it's way better than shelling out $25 for a 20 pack of "professional" shims that you can only use a few times.

As for regular door latches, I've got a specialized "shove knife" sold by Lockmasters, it works pretty well, although I've done just as well with knives, shoestrings and car keys when I didn't have my tools.

grit1 


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University Campus - Minneapolis, MN
Gender: Male


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 12 on 3/8/2006 9:52 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Yeah I only use padlock shims when I have to - either with "high security" locks that I can't pick or like skeleton_keys said, on combo padlocks. Ironically enough, many of the BEST padlocks around a certain campus around here have high security SFIC cylinders in them, but are shimmable . Those are the fun ones.

I pretty much use whatever's available for jimmying latches. The U of M campus has a majority of mortise style locks that have lock bolts that prevent jimmying, but the odd few are installed improperly and thus are easily bypassed using old credit cards / knives / pieces of flashing etc.

Don't forget the possibility of snaring levers from under the door, or actuating crashbar style exit devices with a piece of wire / rod / coat hanger. Always look for the alternative way in!

Deuterium 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 13 on 3/17/2006 3:09 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by grit1
Yeah I only use padlock shims when I have to - either with "high security" locks that I can't pick or like skeleton_keys said, on combo padlocks. Ironically enough, many of the BEST padlocks around a certain campus around here have high security SFIC cylinders in them, but are shimmable . Those are the fun ones.

I pretty much use whatever's available for jimmying latches. The U of M campus has a majority of mortise style locks that have lock bolts that prevent jimmying, but the odd few are installed improperly and thus are easily bypassed using old credit cards / knives / pieces of flashing etc.

Don't forget the possibility of snaring levers from under the door, or actuating crashbar style exit devices with a piece of wire / rod / coat hanger. Always look for the alternative way in!


How would one defeat this without damaging?


Shackle locks down on closed-end too.


The ball would not budge when I pushed on it with a screwdriver


Best 7-pin cylinder
[last edit 3/17/2006 3:12 AM by Deuterium - edited 1 times]

grit1 


location:
University Campus - Minneapolis, MN
Gender: Male


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 14 on 3/17/2006 3:48 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Yep, that padlock has a ball bearing based locking system, that cannot be defeated with shimming. You would have to pick the operating line of the cylinder, OR the control shear line, remove the core and actuate the mechanism with a screwdriver.

M. Fuzzy 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 15 on 3/17/2006 5:41 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Bolt cutters, then put on an identical replacement. They might get suspicious when their key doesn't work however

but it would look like no one's been there

Keep it fuzzy.
Glass 


location:
Chicago


as one does

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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 16 on 3/17/2006 6:40 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Mr. Fuzzy
Bolt cutters, then put on an identical replacement. They might get suspicious when their key doesn't work however

but it would look like no one's been there


Hah. Done that before and it works--kind of!

Deuterium 


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Re: lock shims
<Reply # 17 on 3/17/2006 7:04 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by Mr. Fuzzy
Bolt cutters, then put on an identical replacement. They might get suspicious when their key doesn't work however

but it would look like no one's been there


Not possible. The locks used here have the institution name stamped into the body. Also, using a bolt cutter breaks the urban exploration concept of taking nothing but pictures and leaving nothing but footprints.




Infiltration Forums > Archived UE Tutorials, Lessons, and Useful Info > lock shims (Viewed 978 times)

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